Hair Cutting Tool

ABSTRACT

A hair cutting tool used as a guide for cutting hair at a uniform length. The hair cutting tool includes a pair of plates pivotally secured together by one or more hinges. Each plate includes an upper end opposing a lower end and a first side opposing a second side. The hinges connect a first side of the first plate to a first side of the second plate so as to allow the plates to open and close. The upper ends of each plate are curved in order to rest flush against a user&#39;s head. A closing fastener is disposed on the plates so as to removably secure the plates in a closed configuration with a user&#39;s hair therebetween. A tab is disposed on the first plate in order to assist a user in separating the second side of the first plate from the second side of the second plate.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/005,430 filed on May 30, 2014. The above identified patent application is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety to provide continuity of disclosure.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to hair cutting tool. More specifically, the present invention provides a hair cutting tool for cutting hair at a uniform length. The hair cutting tool comprises a pair of plates pivotally secured to one another so as to be movable between open and closed configurations, wherein a user's hair can be secured between the pair of plates when the plates are in a closed configuration in order to assist in cutting a user's hair to a desired length.

Many people employ the use of professional hair stylists and barbers for cutting and styling their hair. Receiving a professional haircut on a recurrent basis is expensive. Some individuals leave the salon dissatisfied with the aesthetic appeal of their haircut or style, thereby feeling as though they have wasted their money. Additionally, it is time consuming to travel to the salon and frustrating to then have to wait for a stylist to be available. Some individuals will only allow a specific stylist to cut his or her hair, which greatly diminishes the time available to have one's haircut. Furthermore, professional hair stylists and barbers spend a considerable amount of time cutting and re-cutting sections of hair until an individual's hair is at a uniform length. Other individuals choose to cut their own hair or have a friend provide a haircut. However, it is difficult for the individual to cut his or her own hair at a uniform length since they are unable to see what they are cutting and a friend does not have the training or experience to cut hair at a uniform length. Therefore, there exists a need in the prior art for a tool that allows professionals and other individuals to cut hair at a uniform length.

It is submitted that the present invention substantially diverges in design elements from the prior art and consequently it is clear that there is a need in the art for an improvement to existing hair cutting tools. In this regard, the instant invention substantially fulfills these needs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of hair cutting tools now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new hair cutting tool wherein the same can be utilized for providing convenience for the user when cutting hair.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved hair cutting tool that has all of the advantages of the prior art and none of the disadvantages.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a hair cutting tool comprising a pair of plates pivotally secured together by one or more hinges, wherein the hinges connect a first side of the first plate to a first side of the second plate adapted to allow the plates to move between open and closed configurations.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a hair cutting tool wherein the upper ends of each plate are curved adapted to rest flush against a user's head.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a hair cutting tool further comprising a closing fastener disposed on the second side of each plate adapted to removably secure the plates in a closed configuration with a user's hair therebetween.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a hair cutting tool wherein the first plate comprises a tab disposed on the second side thereof adapted to assist a user in separating the second side of the first plate from the second side of the second plate.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a hair cutting tool that may be readily fabricated from materials that permit relative economy and are commensurate with durability.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

Although the characteristic features of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and manner in which it may be made and used may be better understood after a review of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like numeral annotations are provided throughout.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the hair cutting tool in the open position.

FIG. 2 shows a top down view of an embodiment of the hair cutting tool.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the hair cutting tool in use.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Like reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like or similar elements of the hair cutting tool. For the purposes of presenting a brief and clear description of the present invention, the preferred embodiment will be discussed as used for guiding a user to cut hair at a uniform length. The figures are intended for representative purposes only and should not be considered to be limiting in any respect.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a perspective view of an embodiment of the hair cutting tool in the open position a top down view of an embodiment of the hair cutting tool, respectively. The hair cutting tool 11 comprises a first plate 12 and a second plate 13, wherein the first plate 12 is pivotally secured to the second plate 13. Each plate 12, 13 comprises an upper end 21 opposing a lower end 24. The plates 12, 13 are substantially rectangular in shape, with the exception of the upper ends 21. The upper end 21 of each plate 12 is curved inward to form a concaved outline, wherein the upper end 21 is adapted to rest flush against a user's head. The curved upper end 21 stabilizes the tool 11 and prevents it from sliding along a user's head in operation. The lower end 24 is linear so as to guide a user to cut hair in a straight line. However, in other embodiments, the lower end can be any suitable configuration so as to guide a user to cut hair in various configurations. For example, the lower end 24 can be curved in order to provide a user with hair having a curved ends. Or the lower end 24 can be a jagged configuration in order to provide a user with hair having jagged ends. The plates 12, 13 are flat in order to allow hair 19 therebetween to rest flat thereon.

Each plate 12, 13 further comprises a first side 22 opposing a second side 23, wherein the first sides 22 are pivotally secured by one or more hinges 14. The hinges 14 are adapted to allow the plates 12, 13 to open and close so hair 19 can be positioned therebetween or removed therefrom. In an open configuration, the plates 12, 13 can lie in a single plane. In the closed configuration the plates 12, 13 are adapted to rotate towards one another and can be oriented parallel to one another. The hinges 14 are configured so as to create a gap between the first plate 12 and second plate 13 so the plates 12, 13 are unable to rest flush against each other. In this way, there is space for hair 19 to be disposed therebetween.

The hair cutting tool 11 further comprises a closing fastener having a first part 16 and a second part 17, wherein the second sides 23 of the plates 12, 13 are removably secured together so as to allow a user the freedom of using both hands for manipulating and cutting his or her hair 19. The first part 16 is disposed on the first plate 12 and the second part 17 is disposed on the second plate 13. In the illustrated embodiment, the first part 16 is a circular protrusion disposed on the interior surface of the second side 23 of the first plate 12. The second part 17 is a circular indentation disposed on interior surface of the second side 23 of the second plate 13 adapted to receive the first part 16 therein. The first part 16 and second part 17 are aligned and adapted to fasten together when the plates 12, 13 are in the closed position. The diameter of the protrusion is substantially the same as the diameter of the indentation so the first part 16 can fit securely within the second part 17. In this way, the plates 12, 13 are removably secured together.

The first plate 12 further comprises a tab 15 adapted to assist a user in separating the second side 23 of the first plate 12 from the second side 23 of the second plate 13 when the hair cutting tool 11 is in the closed position. The tab 15 extends outwardly from the edge of the second side 23. The tab 15 is rectangular in shape. In other embodiments, the tab 15 can be any suitable shape, such as a semi-circle or a square. In other embodiments, the tab 15 can be disposed anywhere along the edge of the second side 23 of the first plate 12 or second plate 13.

Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown a perspective view of an embodiment of the hair cutting tool in use. In operation, a user opens the hair cutting tool 11 by separating the first plate 12 from the second plate 13 and positions a section of hair therebetween. The curved upper end 21 of the second plate 13 is positioned against the head 18 of the user, whereas the first plate 12 remains separated therefrom. The plates 12, 13 are then removably secured to one another in a closed configuration using the closing fastener. The hair 19 extending from the lower end 24 of the tool is then cut with a pair of scissors 20. The lower end 24 guides the user's scissors 20 therealong so the hair 19 is cut at a uniform length. The user repeats the steps using other sections of hair 19 until all of the user's hair 19 is cut to the desired uniform length.

In an alternative embodiment, the hinge 14 is a spring loaded hinge so as to allow the hair cutting tool 11 to be biased towards the open position, wherein a closing fastener and tab 15 are not included. Some users prefer to hold the plates 12 in a closed position with one hand while cutting hair 19 with their other hand. In operation, the plates 12 are held in a closed position by the pressure applied thereto from the user's grip. Once the user has completed cutting a section of hair 19, the user releases his or her grip, thereby releasing the plates 12 from the closed position. Once released, the plates 12 automatically open and are ready to receive another section of hair 19 therein.

It is therefore submitted that the instant invention has been shown and described in what is considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.

Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention. 

I claim:
 1. A hair cutting tool, comprising: a first plate pivotally secured to a second plate, wherein each of said first plate and said second plate comprise a first side opposing a second side and an upper end; one or more hinges pivotally securing said first side of said first plate to said first side of said second plate; wherein said upper end of said first plate and said upper end of said second plate are curved so as to rest flush against a head.
 2. The hair cutting tool of claim 1, further comprising a closing fastener having a first part disposed on said second side of said first plate and a second part disposed on said second side of said second plate adapted to removably secure said second side of said first plate to said second side of said second plate.
 3. The hair cutting tool of claim 2, wherein said first part comprises a circular protrusion extending from an interior surface of said first plate and said second part comprises a circular indention disposed on said interior of said second plate, wherein said protrusion and said indention are aligned and adapted to removably secure together.
 4. The hair cutting tool of claim 1, further comprising a tab disposed on said second side of said first plate extending outward therefrom adapted to assist a user to separate said first plate from said second plate.
 5. The hair cutting tool of claim 1, wherein said upper end includes a concave curvature.
 6. The hair cutting tool of claim 1, wherein said first plate and said second plate are movable between an open configuration and a closed configuration, wherein said first plate and second plate lie in a single plane in said open configuration and said first plate is parallel to said second plate in said closed configuration.
 7. A method of using a hair cutting tool, comprising; providing a hair cutting tool comprising a first plate pivotally secured to a second plate, wherein said first and second plates are movable between an open configuration and a closed configuration in which said first plate and said second plate are substantially parallel to one another; positioning an upper end of said second plate against a user's head; placing a section of hair between said first plate and said second plate; moving said hair cutting tool into a closed configuration; removably securing said first plate to said second plate, wherein said first plate is removably secured to said second plate by a closing fastener; cutting said section of hair along a lower end of said first plate and said second plate that extends therefrom, such that said section of hair is uniform in length. 